Women's Safety Course (free to the public) 2015-02-03Due to the overwhelming interest from previous classes, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office will host an additional Women's Safety Course on February 21st.
The class will focus on awareness and prevention while also giving participants the tools to address a dangerous situation if necessary. This is a "hands on" class involving practice scenarios and some defensive tactics.
The goal of the Women’s Safety Class is to give females a better understanding of situational awareness and current safety issues with a focus on the prevention of threatening situations as well as how to survive during an assault or other dangerous event.
The one day course is scheduled to to begin at 8:00 a.m., and end at 5:30 p.m.
This course will be taught by deputies who are certified defensive tactics instructors. Class size is limited and expected to fill quickly. The deadline for registration is February 17th.
If interested, please download an application from www.myshelbyso.com. You may fax the application to 205-669-3865, attn: Lt. Clay Hammac or you can email your scanned application to chammac@shelbyso.com

Shots fired at homeowner by car burglar 2015-01-31On Saturday, January 31, 2015, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call where an unknown suspect was reportedly breaking into a car at a residence in the 5000 block of Little Turtle Drive. The property owner confronted the suspect while he was breaking into his car at which time a second suspect shot at the property owner. The homeowner was armed and shot back at both suspects who fled in a dark sedan traveling south on Alabama Highway 119.
The homeowner was uninjured and it is unknown if the suspects were injured when he returned fire. It is believed the sedan was hit by gunfire. The homeowner described one suspect as a black male approximately 6'0" and 160 lbs. The suspects are considered at large at this time. Sheriff’s investigators and evidence technicians are continuing to investigate, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is aware of the number of “car burglaries” reported in residential neighborhoods, particularly along the U.S. Highway 280 corridor. Sheriff’s deputies routinely patrol these subdivisions hoping their presence will deter those responsible and also with the intent of catching and arresting them. In addition, targeted patrol of these neighborhoods at night will remain in place. The crime of Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle is a felony.
Anyone with additional information about this crime is urged to contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office directly at (205) 669-4181, through the Secret Witness line at (205) 669-9116, or through our website at www.shelbyso.com by clicking on the "Report Criminal Activity" link and choosing "General Information."

Domestic Assault and Pursuit 2015-01-31On Friday, January 30, 2015, at approximately 9:50 p.m., Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic dispute in the 20 block of Autry Drive, located in Chelsea. Upon deputies’ arrival, they located one party with injuries and the other party fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver refused to stop and attempted to elude deputies. A pursuit ensued and efforts to stop the vehicle were unsuccessful. Deputies discontinued the pursuit with the knowledge of the driver’s identity after it continued into Jefferson County.
A short time later, Homewood police officers observed the vehicle and driver in their city where they stopped the car and arrested the driver. Shelby County investigators will be obtaining warrants today for a number of criminal charges. This release will be updated with arrest information after the suspect is booked into the jail.
The victim of the domestic violence assault sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Anyone with additional information about this crime is urged to contact the Shelby County Sheriff's Office directly at (205) 669-4181, through the Secret Witness line at (205) 669-9116, or through our website at www.shelbyso.com by clicking on the "Report Criminal Activity" link and choosing "General Information."

Deputies recover stolen Humvee from Army Reserve Unit 2015-01-20On Friday, January 16, 2015 at approximately 11:00 p.m., Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies initiated a traffic stop of a military Humvee in the area of County Road 11 near County Road 36, after receiving reports of the vehicle traveling on the wrong side of the road without the use of headlights. Upon further investigation, deputies determined the Humvee was stolen from the Army Reserve station located on Greensprings Highway in Birmingham. The driver, Jacob Russell Durant, 19 years of age from Alabaster, was arrested on scene for Receiving Stolen Property. The vehicle was released to the 5th Medical Brigade, Army Reserve Unit. Durant is currently being held in the Shelby County Jail on at $10,000 bond.
The Birmingham Police Department is continuing to investigate the theft of the military vehicle. Anyone with additional information about this crime is urged to contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office directly at (205)669-4181, through the Secret Witness line at (205)669-9116 or through our website at www.ShelbySO.com by clicking on the “Report Criminal Activity” link and choosing the “General Information” category.

Executive Staff Appointments 2015-01-12Sheriff John Samaniego and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office are pleased to announce the following personnel promotions. Captain Chris George has been promoted to the rank of Chief Deputy. He has been serving Shelby County since April of 1997. Captain Ken Burchfield has been promoted to the rank of Major. He has been serving Shelby County since December of 2003.
Lieutenant Kevin Turner has been promoted to the rank of Captain. He has been serving Shelby County since April of 1997 also. Lieutenant Mike Hudson has been promoted to the rank of Captain. He has been serving Shelby County since April of 1994.
Sheriff Samaniego would like the public to know that, “Each of these appointments will only improve the effectiveness of the Sheriff’s Office in its service to our residents and visitors. All of these promotional candidates have distinguished themselves through past performance, formal education, professional development and their dedication to our mission”.
These promotions will become effective on January 20th, 2015. Additional personnel changes and promotions will be announced at a later date.

Inauguration of Sheriff-elect John Samaniego 2015-01-09The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to invite the public and the media to attend the ceremony where Sheriff-Elect John Samaniego will be sworn in as Shelby County’s 53rd Sheriff. Circuit Judge Dan Reeves will be presiding over the event.
The ceremony will be held this Saturday January 10th, 2015, at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church located at 5514 Double Oak Lane, Birmingham, AL 35242, at 1:30 p.m. All sworn Sheriff’s Office deputies will also re-affirm their oath with the new Sheriff.
Our Lady Of the Valley Catholic Church is located in northern Shelby County just off of Shelby County Highway 119 between Caldwell Mill Road and Heardmont Park.
Please join us for this important event.

Two arrests made in connection with vehicle break-ins 2015-01-08On Thursday, January 8, 2015, at approximately 01:00 a.m., deputies responded to a 911 call from a local resident reporting that he observed an unknown individual unlawfully entering his neighbor’s vehicle in the area of the Narrows near US Highway 280. While en route, deputies encountered 26 year old Rex Charles Brown of Pickens County, and 30 year old Michael Fairchild of Tuscaloosa County, who were both attempting to leave the area.
Deputies found the suspects in possession of multiple cell phones, gloves, and a flashlight. After being identified by witnesses Brown and Fairchild were placed under arrest.
Fairchild has been charged with Unlawful Breaking and Entering of a Vehicle, and Obstructing Justice and Providing a False Name to Avoid Arrest. Fairchild is being held on a $25,000 bond.
Brown has been charged with Criminal Conspiracy, and is being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Anyone with additional information about vehicle break-ins in the area is urged to contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office directly at (205)669-4181, through the Secret Witness line at (205)669-9116 or through our website at www.ShelbySO.com by clicking on the “Report Criminal Activity” link and choosing the “General Information” category.
For information on the charge listed above, go to the link below and select Title 13 Criminal Code, Chapter 8, and Section 13-8-11
http://www.legislature.state.al.us/CodeofAlabama/1975/coatoc.htm
To view a Shelby County jail inmate’s picture, their charges and bonds, go to www.ShelbySO.com and click on the “Inmate Listing” link at the bottom left. You may then type in the inmates last name and click on the “Search” button or, if you are unsure of the exact spelling, select the first letter of the last name to search for the inmate. An inmate’s information will not be available until he has been booked into the facility.

Shelby County Warming Stations 2015-01-08On Thursday, January 8, 2015, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office received information from Shelby County Emergency Management advising that due to a forecast of below freezing temperatures for Shelby County, warming centers have been established at all Hoover Fire stations and the Calera City Hall. For after hour access to Calera City Hall, individuals should use the Police Department entrance on the side of the building.

Flash Flooding 2014-12-28At 5:30 a.m. on Sunday December 28, 2014, Shelby County is under a Flash Flood Warning and is experiencing flooding in low lying areas. Residents should seek higher ground if they live in an area known to flood and motorists are encouraged to drive slower than normal and use extra precautions where water is visible on the road. The standard rule of the road is, “Do not to drive into water covering the road, turn around, and take an alternate route”.
Two Shelby County roads are currently closed with other closures possible. Shelby County Highway 87 close to the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 is closed with barricades blocking the road. Shelby County Highway 266 at the intersection of Shelby County Highway 17 is also closed and barricaded with water also impeding travel on Highway 17 in the area. Shelby County Highway 119 is also experiencing flooding at several locations with the intersection of Jasmine Hill Road being the worst of them.
Several other roads are being closed in local cities and those police agencies have a list of their closures.
Dial 911 if you have an emergency.
Shelby County deputies have been monitoring the roadways throughout the night and will continue to do so. This release will be updated as more information is available.

Accidental Death 2014-12-17On Tuesday December 16th, 2014, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Shelby County 911 received a call of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle on Four J Road, located in Chelsea. Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies arrived to discover a person with no sign of life trapped under an unoccupied vehicle. Chelsea Fire and Rescue arrived and determined that the victim was deceased. He was identified as Juan Manuel Rodriguez, 41 years of age from Chelsea.
Shelby County Sheriff’s investigators arrived and began the process of determining what led to his death. They were able to determine that the vehicle involved belonged to the victim and that he had been outside working on it immediately prior to his death. The vehicle began rolling and the victim, while attempting to stop it, was run over and became entrapped under the vehicle. The preliminary investigation indicates that this was an accidental death.
The Shelby County Coroner’s Office was notified and responded to the scene.
Anyone with information about this is urged to contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office directly at (205)669-4181, through the Secret Witness line at (205)669-9116 or through our website at www.ShelbySO.com by clicking on the “Report Criminal Activity” link and choosing the “General Information” category.